Democratic National Convention Committee 2000

Lydia Camarillo

As Chief Executive Officer for the Democratic National Convention Committee, Lydia Camarillo has one primary objective this election year- to keep a Democrat in The White House. To accomplish this feat, Ms. Camarillo is using her grassroots organizing skills and today's cutting edge technology to make the 2000 Convention a stepping-stone towards a November victory.

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Ms. Camarillo was the oldest of eight children. She left Texas to attend the University of California at Santa Cruz and continued her education at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. Ms. Camarillo did not take her own education for granted and immediately began working for access to education and opportunities for all Americans.

Lydia Camarillo's career has manifested these goals. As Program Director for the Latino Issues Forum, a California based organization chaired by former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, she advocated for better health and auto insurance policies for the poor Her leadership and talent were quickly recognized and she was named the National Director of the Leadership Development Program for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. She used her time at the MALDEF to develop and organize innovative leadership programs throughout the United States.

After MALDEF she went on to leave her greatest mark: Ms Camarillo founded the Latino Academy, the paramount Latino leadership program in the United States. Further, as Executive Director of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, a national non-profit and nonpartisan organization, Lydia Camarillo helped to change the composition of the current electorate. It is during her tenure that SVREP implemented the largest voter registration and Get Out The Vote campaign of its kind. In partnership with Midwest Voter Registration Education Project and Hispanic Education and Legal Fund, Ms. Camarillo's effort produced over 200 campaigns in 25 states, involving an estimated 18,000 volunteers. They registered an astounding 1.4 million new voters and their efforts ensured a voter turnout of over 5 million Latinos nationwide. Ms. Camarillo's organizational and leadership skills cultivated a movement that has increased Latino political strength to such a level that it is now being courted by both major political parties as the swing vote that will determine who will become the next President of the United States.

Because of Lydia Camarillo's distinguished record of accomplishments, San Antonio's mayor appointed her to serve on the Initial Base Adjustment Strategy Committee. During her time on this committee, they developed a strategic plan to address the problems that threatened to affect the jobs and livelihood of 40,000 families with ensuing the closure of Kelly Air Force Base. California's former Speaker of the Assembly Willie Brown also took notice of her ability. He appointed Ms. Camarillo's to the state's Legislative Task Force on the Representation of Latinos in California's Civil Service.

Currently, Ms. Camarillo sits on the Board of Latino Issues Forum and is chairwoman and founding member of the National Community Latino Leadership. She is also an advisory board member of California's Latino Journal Magazine. LULAC awarded her "Mujeres Que Pueden" in addition to "Latina in Politics" by La Prensa, a Latino publishing company. In Hispanic Business Magazine's October'96 issue, she was named as one of the "100 Influentials." She also served for 6 years on the National Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of the USA, serving on the Finance Committee, as well as the Program and Membership Committee, the Task Group on Language and Pluralism, and the Steering Group on the National Presidents and Executive Directors Meeting. Beyond the realm of awards, accolades and positions, Ms. Camarillo is a published poet. She is also an accomplished lecturer on political empowerment and leadership development.

However, political activism is not the sole recipient of Ms. Camarillo's energy and affection. She is married to Michael Antonio Cohen and has two sons, Miguel Alejandro Camarillo-Cohen and Antonio Andres Camarillo-Cohen.

A gifted political leader, Ms. Camarillo's intense drive has never been diluted. From helping to establish a voice for those without a voice, to organizing massive political operations, she continues to work towards her goals without straying from her principles. Not surprisingly, Ms. Camarillo does not manage; she excels - the 2000 Democratic National Convention is no exception.

For more information, visit www.dems2000.com

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